Rs 20,000 fine for throwing waste in Hindon canal

Anyone spotted throwing waste in and around the Hindon canal will have to pay a fine of Rs 20,000, the National Green Tribunal today announced.
"Any person throwing municipal solid waste construction debris or any other waste in and around the Hindon canal would be liable to pay Rs 20,000 as environmental compensation in terms of Section 15 read with Section 17 of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010.
"Any vehicle which is used for the purpose of throwing such wastes in and around Hindon Canal would be seized by these authorities," a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.

The tribunal's direction came after Vasundhara Enclave resident J P Sharma showed photographs showing indiscriminate dumping of the municipal solid waste, construction debris around the Hindon Canal and its banks.
It directed the Commissioners of East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC), Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam and Ghaziabad Development Authority to ensure that the entire municipal solid waste and debris is cleared by the respective authorities within two days from today.
"In the event of default of the debris being not cleared within the stipulated time the heads of these departments would be present before the tribunal on the next date of hearing.

"If any party or person fails to pay the environmental compensation these authorities would submit a list of such persons along with their addresses to the tribunal for appropriate action against them in accordance with law," the bench said while posting the matter for next hearing on August 27.

The green body had earlier slammed the Uttar Pradesh government for discharging industrial waste into the Hindon canal and causing pollution in the Yamuna river.
Noting that pollution in Hindon canal is a matter of "serious" concern, the tribunal had banned throwing of all kinds of waste and held that the "prohibitory" orders would equally apply to persons and public authorities including Delhi and Uttar Pradesh as it flows through the state.

Advocate Balendu Shekhar, appearing for EDMC, assured the bench that the municipal body will ensure the compliance of the order.